Bali Painting

Bali Painting History

Balinese traditional painting was restricted to ceremony aspect such as religious part, calendar and leather puppet (balinese: wayang). This periode was before 1920 and called as Kamasan or Wayang Style. Wayang itself is two dimentional drawing that characterized an hindu-buddhism epic such as Mahabarata and Ramayana.

The paintings were used on temple or palace as ornament. They ilustrated many stories about religion and bali life. Ussually it is a pieces of paintings that tell a stories. The name of kamasan style itself was take from the village name where it originated.

The material used in kamasan style is also traditional material from mineral and vegetables or plant resources. Also they use white bone, soot, or stone. Bamboo used as tool to painting and the media ( canvas ) ussually traditional canvas from wood, tree leaf, or cloth.

In 1920, there are western artist visited bali. This has change the rule on balinese art painting. An introduce of new canvas from western material, inks and paint, has change the style into modern art painting. The year has start a new way of balinese modern art painting. More artists come to bali has influence traditional style that was restricted to ceremony aspect.

Modern Traditional Painting

In this period three village has predominated the balinese art such as Ubud, Sanur and Batuan. The art has been perfom or done by musicians, dancers, carvers and painters. The painters has used paper canvas and ink. However each village has their own style.

Ubud Painting has more open spaces and explore human figures, meanwhile Sanur is more about erotic scene and animals. Batuan has less color but tended to be busier.

Ubud Painting

Ubud has renowned as art kampung or village in Bali. They sorrounded by palace family and house. There are so many artists live here. Ubud has all kind of artwork that commonly in Bali.

Batuan Painting

This village is about 10 kilometer to the South of Ubud. However the intensity of western influency is not as big as in Ubud. Their painting often more dark and present legendary scenes.

Sanur Painting

Sanur is a well-known place as beach resort. The famous wester artist, Le Mayeur de Mepres was lived here. Their style is more lighter than Batuan and paint an animal creature object.

Beside this three village, there are some place that noted in balinese painting history such as Young Artist School, Keliki, and also today there are many art school where many balinese or outcomers learn about art.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balinese_art